Bil Jackson
Encyclopedia
Bil Jackson is a professional classical clarinet
ist. He started his symphonic career at age 19 with the Honolulu Symphony
in 1980 where he was principal clarinetist for two seasons. Jackson has worked with various performers in the orchestral and chamber setting including David Shifrin
, Emanuel Ax
, and the American String Quartet. He is the long time principal clarinetist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
in Denver, Colorado
, United States, and is also a professor of clarinet at the University of Northern Colorado
in Greeley, Colorado, having served in both positions since 1985. Mr. Jackson also serves on the faculty for the Aspen Music Festival and Colorado College Music Festival. In March of 2011 Mr. Jackson was appointed to the faculty of the Blair School of Music
at Vanderbilt University
in Tennessee.
The composer Dan Welcher
composed his clarinet concerto for Mr. Jackson in 1989. Jackson premiered the piece with the Honolulu Symphony under the baton of Donald Johanos
that September and later recorded it with the same orchestra. On April 10, 2009 Mr. Jackson performed the world premiere of a new work, Clarinet Concerto, written for him by the American composer Kevin Puts
. This concerto was recently premiered at Aspen in the summer of 2010. The Aspen Music Festival recently commissioned Mr. Puts to compose a concerto for the cellist, Yo Yo Ma. Jackson also records for composer Bill Douglas with whom he recently recorded the Suite Cantando with Streve Dibner, bassoon.
Jackson has enjoyed solo performances with a number of American orchestras where he has become well known for his performances of the Copland Clarinet Concerto as well as the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, K.V. 622
. Jackson first performed the Copland with the Honolulu Symphony in 1982. He has subsequently appeared as soloist with the Colorado Symphony, the Charlotte Symphony
, and the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. Jackson is the only musician ever to win the International Clarinet Competition twice, and was a finalist in the Prague International Clarinet Competition.
In 1999, Jackson was engaged by Artistic Director David Shifrin
to perform at Lincoln with the Lincoln Center Chamber Society and to tour throughout the United States with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society.
Bil Jackson is the consummate festival player appearing with numerous of the top festivals all over the country. These include the Aspen Music Festival, where Jackson has been a steady performer since he was a teenager. Other highly rated festivals to engage Jackson over the years are the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, Angel Fire, and the Alpenglow Festival. Further-a-field Jackson has been a regular performer at Chamber Music Northwest. He also has appeared at Chamber Music Sedona, and the Australian Chamber Music Festival.
Bil Jackson was a student of Robert Marcellus
at Northwestern University
. Jackson is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy where he won the Academy's concerto competition three times and was awarded the medal for overall musicianship.
Jackson designed a set of reed making equipment and techniques as part of SpeedReed, but he has since placed the project on hold due to time constraints. He is currently a Yamaha Artist
and plays on a set of custom instruments, the Yamaha CSG series, which he personally helped design and test. His description of the instrument is summarized in the statement, "...the sublime ecstasy of perfect recognition." He also plays on Rico Reserve and Rico Reserve Classic Reeds, and he is a Rico artist.
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist. He started his symphonic career at age 19 with the Honolulu Symphony
Honolulu Symphony
The Honolulu Symphony, also known as the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, was founded in 1900. The Honolulu Symphony is the oldest symphony orchestra in the USA west of the Rocky Mountains. Originally housed in a clubhouse on the slopes of Punchbowl, the Honolulu Symphony now plays from the Neal S...
in 1980 where he was principal clarinetist for two seasons. Jackson has worked with various performers in the orchestral and chamber setting including David Shifrin
David Shifrin
David Shifrin is an American classical clarinetist.-Performances:He has performed clarinet concertos with many major orchestras around the world....
, Emanuel Ax
Emanuel Ax
Emanuel Ax is a Grammy-winning American classical pianist. He is currently a teacher on the faculty of the Juilliard School. He is considered one of the best known concert pianists of the 21st century.-Early life:...
, and the American String Quartet. He is the long time principal clarinetist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Colorado’s only full-time professional orchestra, the Colorado Symphony embraces a tradition of musical excellence by presenting a diverse array of symphonic performances throughout the year...
in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, United States, and is also a professor of clarinet at the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
in Greeley, Colorado, having served in both positions since 1985. Mr. Jackson also serves on the faculty for the Aspen Music Festival and Colorado College Music Festival. In March of 2011 Mr. Jackson was appointed to the faculty of the Blair School of Music
Blair School of Music
The Blair School of Music provides undergraduate conservatory-style education in music performance, theory, and history at Vanderbilt University, a major research university located in Nashville, Tennessee...
at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in Tennessee.
The composer Dan Welcher
Dan Welcher
Dan Welcher is an American composer, conductor, and music educator.- Biography :Welcher was born in Rochester, New York and earned degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, studying bassoon, piano, and composition...
composed his clarinet concerto for Mr. Jackson in 1989. Jackson premiered the piece with the Honolulu Symphony under the baton of Donald Johanos
Donald Johanos
Donald George Johanos was a conductor and music director with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He was recognized for his support of contemporary classical music. He performed or conducted on at least 16 recordings. -Early life and career:Johanos was born in Cedar...
that September and later recorded it with the same orchestra. On April 10, 2009 Mr. Jackson performed the world premiere of a new work, Clarinet Concerto, written for him by the American composer Kevin Puts
Kevin Puts
Kevin Matthew Puts is an American composer.-Life:Puts studied composition and piano at the Eastman School of Music and Yale University, earning the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Eastman. Among his teachers were Samuel Adler, Jacob Druckman, David Lang, Christopher Rouse, Joseph Schwantner,...
. This concerto was recently premiered at Aspen in the summer of 2010. The Aspen Music Festival recently commissioned Mr. Puts to compose a concerto for the cellist, Yo Yo Ma. Jackson also records for composer Bill Douglas with whom he recently recorded the Suite Cantando with Streve Dibner, bassoon.
Jackson has enjoyed solo performances with a number of American orchestras where he has become well known for his performances of the Copland Clarinet Concerto as well as the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, K.V. 622
Clarinet Concerto (Mozart)
Mozart's Clarinet concerto in A major, K. 622 was written in 1791 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler.It consists of the usual three movements, in a fast–slow–fast form:# Allegro# Adagio# Rondo: Allegro...
. Jackson first performed the Copland with the Honolulu Symphony in 1982. He has subsequently appeared as soloist with the Colorado Symphony, the Charlotte Symphony
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Charlotte, North Carolina. As the largest and most active professional performing arts organization in the central Carolinas, the Charlotte Symphony plays approximately 100 performances each season and employs 100 professional...
, and the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. Jackson is the only musician ever to win the International Clarinet Competition twice, and was a finalist in the Prague International Clarinet Competition.
In 1999, Jackson was engaged by Artistic Director David Shifrin
David Shifrin
David Shifrin is an American classical clarinetist.-Performances:He has performed clarinet concertos with many major orchestras around the world....
to perform at Lincoln with the Lincoln Center Chamber Society and to tour throughout the United States with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society.
Bil Jackson is the consummate festival player appearing with numerous of the top festivals all over the country. These include the Aspen Music Festival, where Jackson has been a steady performer since he was a teenager. Other highly rated festivals to engage Jackson over the years are the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, Angel Fire, and the Alpenglow Festival. Further-a-field Jackson has been a regular performer at Chamber Music Northwest. He also has appeared at Chamber Music Sedona, and the Australian Chamber Music Festival.
Bil Jackson was a student of Robert Marcellus
Robert Marcellus
Robert Marcellus was an American classical clarinetist and teacher. Marcellus is best known for his long tenure as principal clarinetist of the Cleveland Orchestra.-Biography:...
at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. Jackson is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy where he won the Academy's concerto competition three times and was awarded the medal for overall musicianship.
Jackson designed a set of reed making equipment and techniques as part of SpeedReed, but he has since placed the project on hold due to time constraints. He is currently a Yamaha Artist
Yamaha Artist
The term Yamaha Artist refers to musical instrumentalists who choose, officially, to play any of a large group of Yamaha musical instruments....
and plays on a set of custom instruments, the Yamaha CSG series, which he personally helped design and test. His description of the instrument is summarized in the statement, "...the sublime ecstasy of perfect recognition." He also plays on Rico Reserve and Rico Reserve Classic Reeds, and he is a Rico artist.